Print-washing device



V. F. LANGTON AND 1.]

UNDERWOOD; PRINT WASHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, I915.

RYENEWED ocT. 19,.19'21.

Patented Ma WITNESS UNITED STAT-E s PATENT omcs.

VERA l LANGTON AND JAMES J". UNDERWOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

rnrnr-wasnrne DEVICE.

Specification of Letters latent. Patented :May 23, 1922,

AppIication filed July 8, 1915, Serial No. 88,825. Renewed October 19,1921, e l-mi no. 508,829.

lVashing Devices of which the following is a specification. I

Our invention relates to a sheet handling device of general applicationand particularly relates to a device for supporting a plurality of wetsheets while subjecting the same to a washingglrving' or other-treatmentI incidental to the finishingof fiexiblephotographic films and prints.

Among the objects of our invention is to provide a device of the aboveindicated character, simple inconstruction, easily manipulated andconveniently handled and which will maintain the sheets while undertreatment constantly subjected to the action of the running water orother treating fluid with the waving movement desirable in washingoperations but contacting with the sheets over the least possible areaconsistent with maintaining the sheet substantially flat.

e attain this object broadly by mounting each sheet loosely between apair of flexible line mesh screens carried in a portable carrier andsubjecting the sheets to the action of a falling body of water directededgewise across the faces of the sheets in such a manner as to cause thesame toavave slightly and thus facilitate the washing and preci'iitating action of the water on the prints. The invention contemplatesa :wash- 'ing: and drying action even where there is no apparentvibratory or waving motion of the sheets the free access of the washingwater or drying fluid to the entire face on both sides of the sheetbeing at the basis of the invention.

Various other objects andadvantages of the invention will be inpartobvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part willbe more fully set forth in the following particular description of oneform of mechanism embodying ourinvention, and the invention alsoconsists in certain new and novel features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of awashing tank with a loaded carrier therein and illustrating a preferredembodiment of our invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device disclosed in Figure 1; r Figure 3is an end view in side elevation of a partially loaded carrier;

Figure 4; is a front view of the carrier shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5 fastening means. iy

In the drawings there is shown a wash tank 10 which may be of anyconstruction best suited to receive the carriers hereinafter described,and in this disclosure shown to be an open top rectangular boxconstructed of rolled copper plates or any other material wliichwill notbe affected by the chemicals contained therein. The tank illustrated isof 5 of Figure 3 showing a framegreater length than width and dividedinto I four v open top carrier receiving compartments 11 by means of theperforated and centrally intersecting partitions 12 and 13. The

top of the longitudinal partition 13 is out lined by a perfo fatedspraypipe 14 designed to discharge washing fluid from opposite sidesthereof into the four compartments.

The spraying; device is supplied from a. pipe 15 leading from a waterfaucet or other source of water or liquid supply and controlled by meansof a valve 16. designed to regulate the flow so to attain a rate of flowbest suited forthe particular washing or liquidtreating"operationinvolved. The intersecting par tions and the spraypipe it constitute a unit bodily movable from the tank to facilitatecleaning and the pipe 14 is connected to the supply pipe 15 by aswiveled joint 17 so that the unit may be swung; on this joint as apivotwithout any necessity for breaking the water connection.

The bottom of each compartment is formed of a wide mouth funnel 18leading; to a short discharge pipe 19. The four discharge pipes aresuitably connected to a single main discharge 20 leading to a sewerconnection or other suitable drain. charge pipe 20 is preferablyprovided with some means for automatically maintaining a liquid level inthe tank and for this purpose the pipe 20 is shown to be bent into anThe dis-i L which maintains the level indicated by the line (4-41,.

A tanlc oi this character is designed to have av carrier 22 demountablypositioned in each compartment tlor holding the sheets vertically andthe detailed description oi any one such carrier will be sufficient forall. The carrier is a book-term oil? open-work metallic t 'ays providedwith an upstanding handle. Described in detail, the carrier comprises a.pair of vertically disposed end standards 23 prete 'ably aluminumcastings earh including a relatively wide base portion 21- substantiallytriangular-shape in side elevation and continuous with a tall convergingupright 25 topped by a late ally extending: cylindrical boss 26projecting in.- wardly. The center of the base portion 24]; ot eachstandard is provided with an opening; 27 extending therethrough andoutlined by an inwardly projecting cylindrical boss 28. with the axisthereof vertically disposed below the axis of the upper boss 26. Thebosses oi. ea 11 standard are each connected by an inwardly projectingbuttress web 29 so that the uprights are formed o't' Tshaped bars ofgradually increasing cross-section oi material from the upper towardsthe lower ends thereof. The base portions are provided with an invertedV-shaped line of. pivot eyes 80 equally spaced and extending downwardlyand out'wardhz towards opposite sides of the base from the verticalmedial plane extending longitudinally through the device.

The side standards are connected adjacent their upper ends by means of abrace rod 3']. preferably tubular with its opposite ends containedwithin the bosses 2(5 and suitably :lastened thereto as by expanding thetube into the boss as shown to the le'lt o'l lligure 2 or by means of apin passed laterally through the boss and tube as shown to the ri 'ht oithis figiiire. This upper b ace constatutes a handle extendinglongitudinally oil the t 'ay and positioned in the ,aid menial plane andabove the center oi gravity o l' the carrier when unloaded. The lowerbase portions of the standards are similarly connected by a tubular rod.33 fastened within the bosses 28 by machine screws S-il. There is thusformed a braced skeleton frame with wide spreading supporting ieetdesigned to fit within the compartments 11, free oi bodily movement andot a height to bring the handle 31 adjacent the top oi the tank when thecarrier positioned therein.

A, plurality oil sheet carrying frames 2353 constituting. in effect, theleaves of the boot:- shaped carrier pivotally mounted on opposite sidesof. the longitrulinal medial plane and are each arranged to be movedfrom a horizontal leading position shown in dotted lines to the right ofFigure 3 into the ver- (Jii ticzl stached position shown in iull linesin this figure. The llflfiltF-l are formed ol a1 outlining bar oi ratherheavy l'lat wire ill bent to shape and u'elerably rectangular. Looselystretched within this rectangular construction is a sheet o'lj' finemesh metallic screen 37' preferably oi kt-mesh line round copper wiresand oi. an interwoven character presenting to the sheet carried by andbetween the :lrames spaced round points 38 or ather short lines roundedlono-itudinaily and laterally 0i. their lengths. This screen has beendescribed as stretched loosely between the outlining frame but this isunder stood to mean that the screen is about as flexible as the screensin window screens in which the body oi the screen as a whole is in oneplane but sections thereol are bulged to :lorm a somewhat irregularcurved plane. As with the window devices the entire screen or at leastthe projecting portions of are: thereof are capable of a slight movementperpendicular to the general plane.

Pivot pins 39 project iroi'u opposite ends ot' the bottom element of therectangular bar 36 and extend into the pivot eyes on opposite standardsso that each frame is pivotally connected at its lower edge to thestandards, As the frames are of the same dimensions, and are pivoted tothe ii'mlined line oi. pivot eyes, the upper edges thereof will hestepped downwardly and outwardly so as to provide passagewiys, indicatedby the arrows -1, leading under the upper out-- lining element 4-0 tothe space between the screens even when each upper element oi eachsucceeding lower frame is engaging the side elements 42 of the nextadjacent upper fran'ie.

The :lrames are fastened in upright position by any suitable means, suclas the spring corrugated clips '21- secured to standards by means oilrivets 43, but it w; be an obvious inecluuiical variation to ten theinnermost pair oi. lranies to the web oi the standard, and clip eachouter 'l'rame to the :uljzwent inner l'rauie.

in operation, the lraiues on one side oi the trays are uuiastcned andlaid lu ri zontally on a support dispor-icd adjacent the print dischargeend oi the photd tat or in other positions convenient to re: eive thewet sheets to he treated. The top frame is swung into vertical positionand fastened in place. One or more sheets of lilnis or prints, oil? an.area sutlicient to cover or substantially cover the iu )per-lace oi thesecoiulv frame is laid. on top oi this l'ranie, prclerablv withoutoverlapping and when the. desired number o'l sheets are oositionul onthe llttllltl. the sauce is raisml and asteiuul to the first ii ...newith the sheet or sheets held verticvll v therebetween. Frame alterlraine is similarly covered and swung up into position until all thetrauma on one side are filled.

The carrier may then be lifted by the ical agitation of each separatesheet handle and turned to present the frames on the other side to theloading operation as previously described.

The carrier with its frames raised and fastened in position, is insertedinto one of the compartments in the washing tank and is subjected to abath of. running'water from the spray pipe. The parts of the tray are soproportioned that the sheets are below the liquid level but all parts ofthe sheets are subjected to a vertically falling cur-- rent of liquidwhich passes down on both sides of each sheet with little or nolateralmovement and then passes into the bottom ,funnel and through the trapinto the drain.

As the spray pipe directs a layer of water to substantially all portionsof. the top surface of the bath and as the funnel bottom is positionedbelow the lower end of the sheet carrying frames and opened directlythereto, substantially moving currents of water are set up in the bath.These currents pass across the faces of each sheet carrying with themthe substances precipitated or.

mechanicallyscoured from the emulsioned side of the sheetacceleratingthe substances in their natural falling direction, butminimizing any tendency of the substances to be re-deposited on otherportions of the sheet. The currents have substantially the ,samevelocity entirely; across the faces of the sheets so that all portionsof the faces are washed evenly, thus tending to eliminate discolorationdue to unequal washing. The upper ends of the stack of frames extendoutwardly and downwardly so that there is formed an opening between thetop element of each frame and the next adjacent inner frame in thescreens thus providing a free passage for the admission of water to theupper edges of the sheet. The construction described maintains theengaging, screens spaced apart a distance greater than the thicknessofthe sheets thus permitting each sheet to have some waving motion betweenthe screens under the action of water passing across the faces of thesame. This mechanappears to facilitate the washing action. As thescreens are somewhat loosely mounted and in fact with screens of largearea itis almost impossible to mount them otherwise, certain sections ofthis screen are bound to be warped out of their general plane and thesewarped portions projecting towards the sheet constitute a means forholding the sheets lightly in their vertical positions.

, As the sheets are free tomove slightly or rather wave slightly underthe action of the body of the water passing edgewise across the facesthereof, the portion of the sheet engaging any of the raised portions ofthe screens, is moved away from the screen on the next wave and in thismanner all portions of the sheet are at some time subjected to theaction of the water while out of. contact with the screens. Even when asheet is inengagement with the screens, there is only a relatively smallaggregate area of the sheet in engagement therewith 1 as the high pointsof the screen are relatively small and well spaced apart leaving anaggregate open area practically equal to the "screen there is maintainedat. all times a thin film of water held by the adhesion between thesheet and screen. In this way the sheets are held between cushioningfilms of water positioned to prevent actual contact between sheet andscreen but designed to prevent any possible curling of the edges of thesheet.

The sheets are allowed to remain in the bath of running water for apredetermined period of time and with a rate of How best adapted toattain a thorough washing, after which the carriers containing thewashed sheets are bodily removed from the wash tank, allowed to drainfor a moment and the sheets are then -subjected,while remain ing mountedin the carriage, to the action of a current of air or other dryingmedium supplied thereto at a rate and in a drying condition best suitedto dry the wet sheets.

The, carriage is unloaded by lowering the frames successively andremoving the dried sheets from between the screens. It will be foundthat the sheets treated by this method have been thoroughly washed in arelatively short period of time, have dried in a fiat or substantiallyflat condition and are ready to ,be mounted without the necessity'of anyironing or other finishing operation to flatten or smooth the same.

By means of a device of this character the wet, prints are handled withthe least possi- As they are bility of tearing the same. maintainedseparated from each other they may be conveniently arranged in adefinite order. Each print may be tagged or otherwise identified and theoperator-thus knows just where any particular printnlay be during thecycle of washing and drying operations. Large wet sheets are difficultto handle, but the horizontal. disposition of the receiving framesfacilitates the transferring of the sheet thereunto, for it iseasier tomove large wet sheets of paper horizontally through the air than to movethem while vertically disposed. The pivotal arrangement ofthe framepermits the sheets even those of large area to be swung into averticalposition thereby to take advantage of the vertically falling effect ofthe washing water. There is no necessity for handling the sheets betweenthe washing and drying steps as the open character of the carriagepermits a tree circulation of dry air across and through the frames.

During the drying operation the frames may be slightly open relative toeach other so as to facilitate the tree passage ot the drying airtherebetween, care being taken not to open the frame to an extent suchas will permit the curling of the paper during the initial drying step.Positioning the pivot points at the lower end of the support and in adownwardly and outwardly inclined line permits the frames to be stackedhorizontally upon each other in their receiving position and at the sametime minimizes any possibility of overturning the carrier. lVith theplates in their vertical position, the handle is disposed above thecenter of gravity of the carrier, thus forming a conveniently handledbasket for carrying the sheets from place to place.

While we have shown and described, and

have pointed out in the annexed claims, certain novel :t'eatures of ourinvention, it will be understood that various omissions, sub stitutionsand changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in itsoperation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim z- 1. In a device of theclass described, a washing tank provided witl'i. a compartment forcontaining a washing bath, perforated flexible means for positioning aflexible sheet to be washed vertically in said bath and means forcausing currents of liquid to pass in said bath vertically past allportions of said flexible sheet, said tank provided with an outlet belowsaid sheet positioning means and spaced therefrom to form a compartmentfor the liquid below the sheets whereby all portions of the sheet issi'lbjecti-id to a vertically il'alling sheet o'l liquid which drainsoil the entire lower edge ot each sheet.

2. In a device of the class described, a washing tank provided with ac-on'ipartment for containing a washing bath, a pair of flexibleperforated members adapted to be disposed relatively close together forloosely positioning a sheet to be washed vertically in said bath, meansfor causing currents of liquid. to pass in said bath vertically past allportions o'l said sheet, said compartment provided with an outlet spacedbelow said members to provide a drain. space to insure the verticalmovement of the liquid across the lower portion of the sheet and meansfor automatically maintaining said bath at a definite level.

3. In a device of the class described, a washing tank provided with acoulpartment for containing a washing bath, a pair oi flexibleperforated nn-aubers adapted to be disposed relatively close togetherFor loosely positioning a sheet to be washed. vertically in said bath,means lor causing currents oi liquid to pass in said bath verticallypast all portions of said. sheet, said. compartment provided with. anoutlet spaced below said members to provide a drain space to insure thevertical movement oil the liquid. across the lower portion of the sheet,means for antomatically maintaining said bath at a delinite level andmeans :for controlling the rate of flow to said bath.

4:. in a device or the class described, a tank provided with acompartment for containing flat sheets positioned vertically therein,means for maintaining a liquid level. in said connpartment above theupper edge of said sheets and a supply pipe above said level providedwith a. plurality of apertures for directing a liquid spray to the to pof said bath and over a material area ill\.l(.- of, means forwithdrawing the liquid from a material area of the bottom ol? thecompartment along the entire length oi the bot tom edges of the sheetswhereby substan tially all portions of the sheets to be treated may 2esubjected to flat vertically 'lallin r currents of liquid.

5. In a device of the class dcs. 'bed, a wash tank provided with apartition 10]. separating the tank into a plurality of coinpartments, aplurality of draining outlets, one

from each of said compartments, a supply pipe carried by and extendingparallel to said partition and provided with apertures on each side fordirecting liquid into said compartment, said partition being removableas a unit from said tank to lacilitate cleaning.

(3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a washtank, oi perforated flexible means spaced above the bottom of the tankfor engaging a 'l'lexible sheet practically acro ts entire side torsupporting the same vertically in said tank and means adjacent saidfirst named. means l'or directing streams o'li liquid vertically downacross one face Of said sheet whereby substances washed trom said sheetare carried in their precipitating direction and with a minimum lengthof travel in contact with the sheet and means for withdrawing the liquidfrom the bottom of the tank.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a wash tank,moans tor holding a flexible sheet against curlii r n a vertical planebut free to wave slightly n a direction transverse to its plane andnvans for directing a fluid acro. one face oi the sheet thereby to treatthe same while subjecting the sheet to a slight waving motion.

8. In a device of the cla s described. means for supporting a sheetvertically and Cir for maintaining the same substantially flat, saldmeans engaging the sheet by means of spaced apart rounded pointsaggregating a comparatively small area compared to the.

9. In a device of the class described, a

pair of parallel substantially flat and slightly flexible sheets of finemesh screens positioned relatively close to each other and adapted tocontain'aflexible sheet therebetween free to have slight movement in adirection perpendicular to the plane of tlie'screens and means forsubjecting the entire face on one side of said sheet to the action of abody of liquid moving across the same and simultaneously acting thereonto wave the sheet.

10. In a device of the class described, a pair of parallel substantiallyflat and slightly flexible sheets of fine. mesh screens formed of fineround interwoven wires positioned relatively close to each other andadapted to contain a flexible sheet therebe tween free to have slightmovement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens andmeans for subjecting the entire face on one side of said sheet to theaction of a body of liquid moving across the same and simultaneouslyacting thereon to wave the sheet.

11. book-form of carrier for handling wet sheets comprising sidesupports and a plurality of frames pivoted at their lower ends betweensaid supports whereby said frames will form superposed leaves adapted tobe swungfrom a horlzontal receiving position into a vertical stackedposition and. means for fastening the frames in their raised position. i

12. A book form of carrier for handling wet sheets comprising a baseportion and a pair of vertically disposed end standards extendingupwardly from opposite ends of the base portion, a plurality of sheetcarrying frames positioned between and having their lower edgespivotally supported in the end standards whereby each frame can belowered into a horizontal position or raised into a vertical stackedposition and fastening means spaced from the pivoted edge of the framesand secured to the standards for securing any number of the verticaledges the members on one side will tend to counterbalancethe members ontheother side of the plane, said broad bottom of the side supportsextending across said plane.

, 141:. In a device of the class described, a carrier including sidesupports, a plurality of sheet carrying frames pivotally mounted betweensaid supports and adapted to be positioned vertically, the upper edge ofeach frame when in vertical position being positioned below the nextadjacent inner frame wherebya fluid passageway is provided'to theportion of each framebelow its out-lining upper edge.

15. In a device of the class described, a

carrier including side supports, a plurality of sheet carrying framespivotally mounted between said supports and adapted to be positionedvertically, the upper edge of each frame when in vertical position beingposi tioned below the next adjacent inner frame whereby a fluidpassageway is provided to the portion of each frame below its outliningupper edge and means for holding said frames in position to maintainsaid passageway.

16. In a device of the class described, a carrier including sidesupports, a plurality of sheet carrying frames pivotally mounted betweensaid supports and adapted to be positioned vertically, the upper edge ofeach frame when in vertical position being positioned below the nextadjacent inner frame whereby a fluid passageway is provided to theportion of each frame below its outlining upper edge, means for holdingsaid frames in position to maintain said passageway and means fordirecting waterthrough said passageways and between the several frames.

17. In a device of the class described, a support, a plurality of framescarried thereby, each frame formed of an outlining memher and a wirescreen stretched within said member, said frames adapted to bepositioned facing each other with a sheet disposed flatwisetherebetween, said sheet and wire screen designed to have a slight playlaterally of their general plane.

18. In a device of the class described, a support, a plurality of framescarried there by, each frame formed of an outlining member and a wirescreen stretched within said member, said frames adapted to bepositioned facing each other with a sheet disposed flatwisetherebetween, said sheet and wire screen designed to have a slight playlaterally of their general plane and conveniently accessible meansadjacent an outer edge of said frames for fastening the same togetherinorder.

. 19. In a device of the class described, a

support, a plurality of lapping frames each pivoted to said support andadapted to be swung from and to a vertical position, each frameincluding a sheet of slightly flexible wire screen adapted to presslightly on a sheet carried between adjacent screens. thereby to hold thesheet in vertical position.

20. In a device of the class described, means for holding wet sheets inflat condition without injury to the faces of the sheet comprising apair of wire screens imposed against each other and adapted to receivethe sheet therebetween, said screens being of fine interwoven meshpresenting spaced rounded points to the faces of the sheet and engagingthe same over an aggregate area relatively small compared to the area ofthe sheet thereby to provide openings to the faces of the sheetsubstantially equal in the aggregate to the entire area of the sheet.

21. In a device of the class described, means for holding wet sheets inflat condition without injury to the faces of the sheet comprising apair of frames adapted to be positioned facing each other with the sheettherebetween each of said frames including an outlining member ofrelatively great thickness and a fine mesh screen stretched within theoutlining member constituting a means tending to maintain the screensspaced from each other.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 6th day of July, A. D., 1915.

VERA F. LANGTON. JAMES J. UNDERlVOOD.

